Treater for petroleum emulsions.



R. E. LAIRD &1. H. RANEY. TREATER FoR PETROLEUM EMuLsloNs.

APPLICATION FILED IULY 22. 1914.

Patented June 8, 1915.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT E. LAIRD AND JOSEPH H. RANEY, OF TAFT, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS, BY`

DIRECT-AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 RANEY-LAIRD PETROLEUM DEHYDRATINGCOMPANY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION 0F CALIFORNIA.

TREATER FOR PETROLEUM EMULSIONS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1915.

Application led July 22, 1914. Serial N o. 852,482.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT E. LAIRD and JOSEPH H. RANEY, citizens ofthe United States, both residing at Taft, in the county of Kern, Stateof California, have invented a new and useful Treater for PetroleumEmulsions.

Our invention relatesto treaters for emulsions and more particularly totreaters used for breaking up and separating emulsiiied water frompetroleum oils.

Water is commonly found in petroleum oils in two forms. First, as largeglobules of free water which readily settle out if allowed to stand, andsecond, in small particles of trapped water which form an emulsion withthe oil and which will not settle out even if allowed to stand for along time.

The principal object of our invention is to provide a treater which willconvert' trapped water into free water.

Previous inventors have attempted to treat oil by the application ofelectric potentials thereto,but so far as we are aware they haveattemp'ted to do this by passing the oil downwardly between chargedelectrodes. In our invention the oil is passed upwardly between suchelectrodes with the result that the liquid in the top of the treater hasbeen practically freed of water. This results in a high insulationfactor on the surface of the treater and does away with the necessityfor special insulation on the electrodes passing through this surface.This upward movement of the freed oil and downward movement of the freedwater is also of great value in providing a positive separation of theseliquids as they both move in the direction enforced on them by theaction of gravity. Such a separation is therefore independent of thespeed of the entering emulsion so long as this speed is kept below acertain value. Y

Further objects and advantages will be evident hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only;Figure 1 is a vertical section through a particular form of ourinvention. Fig. 2 is a section on the plane a02-x2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 isasection on the plane ac3-w3 of Fig. 1.

The treater consists of a tight outer shell 1 having a tight bottom 2and a tight top 3, YSecured near the top of the treater is a pan'4forming a tight closure therewith and avm of which is placed an outerelectrode 6 which is of cylindrical form and which extends downwardlyand forms a tight closure at its lower end with a plate 7. The plate 7is provided with four holes 8. The interior of the treater is thusdivided up into an upper chamber 9, an intermediate chamber 10 betweenthe pan 4 and the plate 7 and a lower chamber 11 below the plate 7, theouter electrode 6 forming an open passageway between the chambers 9 and11 and the holes 8 providing a passageway between the chambers 10 and11. Insulators 12 are supported on the top 3 and each carries an '1nnerelectrode 13 which extends down through the center of the outerelectrodes 6 as shown in Fig. 1. The inner electrodes have a series ofpoints 14 formed thereon and the outer electrodes have a series ofpoints 15 formed thereon, these points forming the spark terminals fromwhich an electrical discharge takes place upon the application of properpotential to the outer electrode (3 and the inner electrode 13. Aheating coil 16 is provided in the chamber 10 for the purpose of heatingthe oil and reducing its viscosity. A central outlet pipe 17 passesthrough the bottom 2, the .plate 7, and the pan 4, forming a. tightclosure therewith, and extends upwardly as shown at 18 into the pan 4.An emulsion inlet pipe 19 enters the chamber 10 just belen7 the pan 4and a water outlet pipe 20 enters the chamber 11 at the bottom thereof.

The method of operation is as follows: A body of emulsion is allowed toflow through the pipe 19 into the central chamber 10 passing out of thechamber 10 into the chamber 11 through the outer electrode 6 andbetweenthe points 14 and 15 formed on the outer and inner electrodes. Asuitable electromotive force being impressed between these electrodes adischarge then takes place between these points which tends to line upthe water particles into chains and to ybreak up the dividing walls andcoalesce these particles into globules of free water. The greaterportion of this free Water settles out of the emulsion into the bottomof the chamber 11 and is removed through four holes 5 formed therein ineach water together with a little emulsion is car- I ried upwardly bythe free oil into the pan 4 and overflows into the pipe 17 by meansofwhich it may be taken to any convenient formof separating means, suchas settling tanks or the like.'

We claim as our invention:

y1. A treater for emulsions of petroleum o'il and'water comprising ashell, a pan dividing theA shell into two compartments,

hollow outer electrodes fixedv in said pan providing anv opencommunication between the compartments, and an inner electrode in eachouter electrode. ,y

2. A treater for emulsions of petroleum oil and watercomprising a shell,a pan dividing the shell into twocompartments, hollow outer electrodesfixed in said pan providing an open communication between thecompartments, a vseries of projections projecting inwardly from theinner wall of said outer electrodes, and an inner electrode in eachouter electrode, said' inner electrodes having a series of projectionson their outer surfaces. Y

3. A treater fonemulsions of petroleu oil and water comprising a shell,a pan forming a tight closure with said shell and dividing the shellinto upper and lower compartments, a series 'of hollow outer electrodesmaking a tight closure with said pan and providing an open communicationbetween said compartments, an inner electrode in each of said outerelectrodes suitably insulated therefrom, means for sup plying emulsionto the lower compartment, means for removing cleaned oil from the uppercompartment, means for removing free water from the lower compartment,and means for impressing an electromotive force between said electrodes.Y

4. A treater for emulsions of petroleum oil and water comprising acylindrical shell, a pan forming a tight joint with said shell near thetop thereof and dividing said shell into an upper and a lowercompartment, a series of hollowv outerl'elect'rodes forming a tightjoint with said pan and extending downwardly in said lower compartment,an inner electrode in each of said outer electrodes suitably insulatedtherefrom, means for. supplying an emulsion below said pan, and meansfor drawing liquid out of the upper compartment.

5. A treater for emulsions of petroleum oil and water comprising anouter cylindrical shell, a bottom' forming a tight closure with saidshell, a pan located near the top of and -forming'a tight closure withsaid shell, a top for said shell, a series of hollow cylindrical outerelectrodes making a tight closure with said pan and extending downwardlytherefrom, a series of inner electrodes supported by saidV top andinsillated. therefrom and each projecting downwardly into an outerelectrode, means for admitting an emulsion below -said pan,

b'er having a .series of projectionssecured to its inner wall andextending inwardly from said wall, means for introducing an` emulsion ofoil and water into the treater,

. means for withdrawing the separated oil and water from the treater,and an inner electrode centrally located in said member and having aseries of projections extending outwardly therefrom.

7. A treater for emulsions comprising a containing vessel, a walldividing said vessel into an upper compartment and a lower compartment,a hollow conduit fixed in said wall providing an open communicationbetween said upper compartment and said lower compartment, Vand treatingmeans in said conduit.

8.A treater for emulsions comprising a containing vessel, a walldividing said vessel into an upper compartment and a lower compartment,a hollow conduit fixed in said wall providing an open communicationbetween said upper compartment and said lower compartment, electrodes insaid conduit, and means for impressing an electromotive force betweensaid electrodes.

9. A treater for emulsions comprising a containing vessel, a walldividing said ves-. sel into an upper compartment and a lowercompartment, a hollow conduit fixed in said wall providing an opencommunication be-l tween said upper compartment and said lowercompartment, an electrode in said conduit` and means for impressing Aanelectromotive force between said conduit and said electrode.

10. A treater for emulsions comprising a containing vessel,.a walldividing said vessel into an upper compartment and al lower compartment,means for supplying emulsion to said lower compartment, means forwithdrawing light liquid from the upper compartment, means forwithdrawing heavy liquid from the lower compartment, a hollow conduitfixed in said wall providing an open communication between said uppercompartment and said lower compartment, and treating means in saidconduit.

11. A treater for emulsions comprising a containing vessel, a walldividing said vessel into an Vupper compartment and a lower compartment,means for supplying emulsion to said lower compartment, means forwithdrawing light liquid from the upper compartment, means forwithdrawing heavy liquid from the lower compartment, a hollow conduitfixed in said wall providing an open communication between said uppercompartment and said lower compartment, electrodes in said conduit, andmeans for impressing an electromotive force between said electrodes.

12. A treater for emulsions comprising a containing vessel, a walldividing said vessel into an upper compartment and a lower compartment,means for supplying emulsion to said lower compartment, means forwithdrawing light liquid from the upper compartment, means forwithdrawing heavy liquid from the lower compartment, a hollow conduitfixed in said wall providing an open communication `between said uppercompartment and said lower compartment, an electrode in said conduit,and means for impressing an electromotive force betweensaid conduit andsaid electrode.

13. A treater for emulsions comprising a containing vessel, a walldividing said vessel into an upper compartment and a lower compartment,a light liquid discharge pipe centrally located in said containingvessel and extending through and forming a tight closure with the bottomof said vessel and extending through and forming a tight closure withsaid wall, means for introducing emulsion into said lower compartment,means for withdrawing heavy liquid from said lower compartment, a seriesof conduits secured in openings in said wall about said light liquidvdischarge pipe, said conduits forming open passageways between saidupper and lower compartments, and treating means in each conduit.

14. A treater for emulsions comprising a containing vessel, a walldividing said vessel into an upper compartment and a lower coinpartment,a light liquid discharge pipe centrally located in said containingvessel and extending through and forming a tight closure with the bottomof said vessel and extending through and forming a tight closure withsaid wall, means for introducing emulsion into said lower compartment,means for withdrawing heavy liquid from said lower compartment, a seriesof conduits secured in openings in said wall about said light liquiddischarge pipe, said conduits forming open passageways between saidupper and lower compartments, electrodes in said conduits, and means forimpressing an electromotive force between said electrodes.

15. A treater for emulsions comprising a containing vessel, a walldividing said vessel into an upper compartment and a lower compartment,a light liquid discharge pipe centrally located in said containingvessel and extending through and forming a tight closure with the bottomof said vessel and eX- tending through and forming a tight closure withsaid wall, means for introducing emulsion into said lower compartment,means for withdrawing heavy liquid from said lower compartment, a seriesof conduitssecured in openings in said wall about said light liquiddischarge pipe, said conduits forming open passageways between saidupper and lower compartments, inner and outer electrodes in saidconduits, and means for impressing an electromotive force between saidouter and inner electrodes.

16. A treater for emulsions comprising a containing vessel, a walldividing said vessel into an upper compartment and a lower compartment,a light liquid discharge pipe centrally located in said containingvessel and extending through and forming a tight closure with the bottomof said vessel and extending through and forming a tight closure withsaid wall, means for introducing emulsion into said lower compartment,means for withdrawing heavy li uid from said lower compartment, a serieso conduits secured in openings in said wall about said light liquiddischarge pipe, said conduits forming open passageways between saidupper and lower compartments, an inner electrode in each of saidconduits, and means for impressing an electromotive force between thewall of each of said conduits and the inner electrode in said conduit.

17. A treater for emulsions comprising a containing vessel, a walldividing said vessel into an upper compartment and a lower compartment,a light liquid discharge pipe centrally located in said containingvessel and extending through and forming a tight closure with the bottomof said vessel and extending through and forming a tight closure withsaid wall, means for introducing emulsion into said lower compartment,means for withdrawing heavy liquid from said lower compartment, a seriesof conduits secured in openings in said wall about said light liquiddischarge pipe, said conduits forming open passageways between saidupper and lower compartments, a series of inwardly projecting points ineach of said conduits, an inner electrode in each of said conduits, andmeans for impressing an electromotive force between each of said pointsand said inner electrodes.

18. A treater for emulsions comprising a containing vessel, a walldividing said vessel into an upper compartment and a lower cornpartment,a light liquid discharge pipe centrally located in said containingvessel and extending through and forming a tight closure with the bottomof said vessel and extending through and forming a tight closure withsaid wall, means for introducing emulsion into said lower compartment,means for withdrawing heavy liquid from said lower compartment, a seriesof conduits secured in openings in said wall about said light liquiddischarge pipe, said conduits forming open passageways between saidupper and lower compartments, a series of inwardly projecting points ineach of said conduits, an inner electrode in each of said conduits, aseries of outwardly projectin points on each of said inner electrodes,an means for impressing an electromotive force between said outer andsaid inner points.

19. In a treater for petroleum emulsions, a treating chamber comprisinga hollow member having a series kof outer projections secured to itsinner wall extending inwardly from said wall, an inner electrodecentrally located in said hollow member and having a series of innerprojections extendin outwardly therefrom, means for introduclng anemulsion of oil and water into the treater, means for withdrawing theseparated oil and water from the treater, and means for causing adisruptive electric discharge to take place between said outerprojections and said inner projections.

20. In a treater for petroleum emulsions a treating chamber having aseries of points projecting inwardly from the walls of the chamber, aseries of points connected to an inner electrode and projectingoutwardly therefrom, means for electrically insulating the innerelectrode from walls of the treating chamber, means for impressing anelectromotive force between the inner electrode and the walls of thechamber, means for in troducing an emulsion of oil and water into thebottom of said chamber, means for withdrawing water from below saidchamber, and means for withdrawing dehydrated oil from above thechamber.

21, In a treater for petroleum emulsions a treating chamber having aseries of points projecting inwardly from the walls of the chamber, aseries of points connected to an inner electrode and projectingoutwardly therefrom, means for electrically insulating the innerelectrode from walls of the treating chamber, means for intermittentlyim pressing an electromotive force between the inner electrode and thewalls of the chamber, means for introducing an emulsion of oil and waterinto the bottom of said chamber, means for withdrawing water from belowsaid chamber, and means for withdrawing dehydrated oil from above thechamber.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands at Los Angeles,California, this 15th day of July, 1914.

ROBERT E. LAIRD. JOSEPH H. RANEYL In presence of- FRED A. MANSFIELD,FORD W. HARRIS.

